NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

PRESS RELEASE

NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

PULLMAN – The Pullman Police Department is partnering with The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 12 -16, 2012. This is a time for individuals, families, businesses and communities to understand their risk for flooding and take precautions to protect their families and homes in the event of flooding.

"Floods can happen at any time, anywhere across the United States, which means we all need to be prepared now," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "There are simple steps everyone can take to prepare for flooding, such as developing a family emergency plan, having an emergency supply kit and protecting your home or business from flooding by obtaining a flood insurance policy."

Flooding is the leading cause of severe weather-related deaths in the U.S., and this is especially tragic since many are preventable. There are simple steps residents can take today to reduce their risk to all types of floods. Flood Safety Awareness Week is an excellent time for individuals and families to understand their flood risk and implement precautions to mitigate the threat to life and property.

There are a number of flood preparedness resources available on the Pullman Police website at www.pullman-wa.gov/police; look for the menu item “Emergency Preparedness” and then “Floods”. FEMA and NOAA will provide the public with key information related to flood hazards and ways to protect yourself and your property each day of National Flood Safety Awareness week at http://blog.fema.gov. NOAA will issue the 2012 U.S. Spring Outlook and flood assessment on March 15.